Are there any tourist attractions in Charlotte NC?

Answer 1

There are a lot of great spots less than a few hours from Charlotte. I am a native of the region and have been all over the area. One of my favorite weekend trips is Welcome, NC. I am a big race fan, and my husband and I love wine. In Welcome, you will find the RCR racing museum. You could spend all day there and not get bored. Just down the road a few miles is Richard Childress Vineyards. I will tell you, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. I went in the winter, and the scenery was still beautiful. A great place to take pictures, and go on the wine tasting tour. It's well worth it. Another good place to visit is Chimney Rock Village. About 2 hours from Charlotte toward the mountains. It's beautiful and there is so much to do! Be careful of tourist traps there though. The beach at lake lure is fun, but a lot of places on the broad river will let you swim on their banks for free, vs. the $8 you pay at the beach. The fishing is good, if you go toward the upper end of the river, they stock it once a month toward the end of the month. The last time we went, my husband and I stayed at the Evening Shade River Lodge. Hands down, the best value for your money. 4th of July weekend we had a large cabin-style room with an eat-in kitchen for a whopping $60 a night! You can't beat it! I recommend hitting the grocery store before you go. There aren't many affordable resturants in town, but at the Evening Shade they have grills outback. They also have a fire pit and at night you can sit and roast marshmallows with other guests. It's a really fun place for the kids, and they have a swimming hole with small sliding rocks right on the Broad River. I highly recommend wearing t-shirts and shorts to swim in though. Also, if you decide to go Gem Mining, I highly recommend Broad River Gem Mining Company. It was one of the best experiences ever, and a budget friendly activity. The kids and adults will love it! It's a short drive east of Lake Lure, but well worth the trip. If you try and gem mine in Chimney Rock, you are gonna pay out the ying-yang for a small selection of gems, and it's a little bit of a downer. At Broad River Gems, you can get a BIG bucket for about $25 and it's loaded with stuff! The guy that runs the Gem Mining will sit with you as you pan so you don't miss anything. Also, he can tell you about everything you find, where it comes from, and how it's made. Also, you are guranteed one LARGE piece per bucket. On our first bucket I found a piece of amethest the size of my forearm! We ended up getting 3 buckets between us that day! Realistically, a family of 4 can share a bucket and still come away with more than enough. It's educational for the kids, and fun too! Slightly messy though, so prepared to get a lil wet. Don't wear your church clothes for this one. Also, they have a beautiful shop/museum on the property. We got the chance to see a 9,000 year old fossilized bear, and a few key Smithsonian pieces there. It's well worth the trip. Another good destination close to Charlotte that would be fun is Charleston. They have some great history there. I recommend staying at the Red Roof Inn in Mt. Pleasant (just across the harbor). It's they best value for your money. The hotel just got re-done a few years ago, so almost all furnishings are brand new. That way, you can drive into the city, park your car, and walk everywhere. There are so many things to see and do, you can't get it all in one trip. We have been 4 times in 5 years and still haven't seen everything. Take advantage of Patriots Point, Fort Sumter, Battery Park, and a lot of the shops and art galleries downtown. There are also some great beaches nearby. It's family friendly, but one of the most romantic places in the world. It's not a tourist trap by any means. I highly recommend a ghost tour also. They are so much fun, even for the kids :) If you get a good tour guide it's well worth the money. There is plenty to do on a budget, just looks for the places the locals go. One of the best spots for breakfast is the Lil Cricket. It's a gas station with a small diner attached. It's downtown near Tommy Condon's. I highly recommend the grits and eggs.

Answer 2

You can go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, take the Charlotte's Historical Tour, river tube on the Catawa River, or head to Asheville to the Biltmore Estate and attend a wine tasting.